Yall...I have been giving my skin bleaching a major break while using neutrogenas visibly even and proactiv to do some damage control (getting rid of the small dark spots acne left behind thanks to BC ) before I go about bleaching with my 55+H, which I have been staring at in my bathroom for the past week now...Yet I am steadily gettiing darker and Im almost at my starting point and yall it is soooooooo painful for me right now...I know this is a skin lightening thread and Im not exactly talking ab solutions, but I HAD to vent...Im hurting like hell right now...I took a picture with some friends at a festival today (under a flash mind you) at my school and my face was soooo dark in the foto...I guess I hadnt realized how dark I had gotten, and it wasnt until I saw that pitcure that it all came crashing down on me....It hurt sooo bad you guys...I just felt like all of my hard work, researching, all of it had gone down the drain...Now many of you are saying..then just start back then! Well, I dont want light skin and terrible acne marks, I want light bright clear skin and I know its possible....I just wish there was a cream that got rid of acne marks and lightened the skin as a whole....not just making the skin around the acne marks lighter....Sooo thats my vent..I figured if I were gonna vent, it ought to be in a place with others who may have or are currently going through the same thing.

Golden_Girl

afro13queen many of us know the stress with the skin redarkening after lightening, it can be a yo-yo effect. But try not to get depressed about it. Because this is all temporary and many of us are bound to redarken even a little someday. I myself am back to the beginning and it is aggravating, but I'm working towards it again and trying to see it as part of the process. So just try to stay focused and not stress yourself out too much. Are you exfoliating as well and using sunblock with high spf?

EggoMini

**(hugs)** yes, i agree w gg...please keep with the sunblock, exfoliation and restoring the health of your skin. Is it possible for you to see a dermadoc or aesthetician?

afro13queen

I guess you could say Im exfoliating. My Proactiv has a cleanser that has beads in it and my Neutrogena Visibly Even also has beads in it too. The Visibly Even has a moisturiser with helioplex but im not sure the spf..ill have to check...

But thank you guys soo much for the kind words...

afro13queen

So are these the equivalent of dermatologists? Because if so, Ive been to ab 3 dermatologists, alll of who were white and totally oblivious to what I was trying to imply ab my skin color...It was hard to even imply it..

EggoMini

Maybe you'd have better luck with a brown doctor? I'm not sure where you are but the minority associations sometimes have professional directories.

Another choice would be a spa that specializes in POC (people of color).

I've gone up to 60+ sunblock and hats. Also on Skin Care Talk they talk about how some sunscreens are more effective @ preventing darkening, freckles etc.

EUEROPEAN sunblock... - Skin Care Talk

Do you avoid sun exposure? - Skin Care Talk

Moisturizer or sunblock first? - Skin Care Talk

divaforlyfe

Have you tried a chemical peel to speed up the process?

afro13queen

@divaforlyfe

Never tried a chemical peel. Im afraid to use something Ive always thought of as really strong. Can someone explain to me in their own experiences exactly what a chemical peel does to brown skin?

afro13queen

@ Eggo

Im thinking I would have better luck with a brown doctor too, but Im also afraid that they would look down on me for asking to be lighter..ya know?

divaforlyfe

I got a chemical peel from the derma. and paid like 300 dollars to clear the black spots on my face, and sun damage, then i figured out how to do it myself, you can go online and find what kind fits you best. For black skin the lactic acid,jessner or tca is the best, but I would'nt use the TCA if it's your first time. You can do a body peel as well,it really helps with the lightening process, it peels the superficial layers of the skin to bring new skin to the forefront, warning use the weakess strenght (depending on you skin) first then work your way up. You will peel so it's best to do it on your down time. I have sun damage and chemical damage on my arms from using bio claire so I plain on doing a TCA during thankgiving, P.M. me if you want more info there is too much to explain.